Soumya aims high for NZ series

Bangladesh pace all-rounder Soumya Sarkar said that they are going to tour New Zealand to play their first overseas series where their goal is to overcome the old records and return with good results from the ensuing tour.

Bangladesh has no record of winning any match on New Zealand soil even though they have a few records of losing the match having in a winning situation. Every time the Tigers toured New Zealand, they had to return empty-handed.

But Soumya said like his captain Tamim Iqbal Khan that this time around they want to change the old record of what they did in the past series if they could perform their best performance from their respective positions.

“Of course, this time we can change it, and return with good results. Everyone did well in the ODIs against the West Indies. We also have an ODI series there. I hope we do well.” Soumya Sarkar said before leaving the country for the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Bangladesh could not take any preparation before playing in difficult conditions like in New Zealand. Though, they are mentally prepared and took inspiration from the ODI series win against the West Indies.

“Of course, we will try our best to do something good if it happens and then the good yield will come out from it. The way everyone is prepared physically and mentally I hope everyone will do well” Soumya added.

In addition, Bangladesh had played six ODIs and seven T20s in New Zealand, however, they lost all the matches.

Bangladesh will embark on their month-long campaign with ODI matches, starting on March 20 in Dunedin. The second and third ODI will be played in Christchurch and Wellington on March 23 and 26 respectively.

After the end of the ODI series, the three-T20 series will be played in Hamilton, Napier and Auckland respectively on March 28, 30 and April 1 correspondingly.

After being arrived in New Zealand, a Covid-19 test will be done at Christchurch, where the contingent of the Team Tigers will be quarantined for 14 days at the Lincoln University High Performance Center subject to tested negative.

The visiting side has to be quarantined in the hotel in the initial seven days of the two-week quarantine. During the period of time, no one will get an opportunity to mix with each other; even they will not get a chance to dine together.

The local authority will send victuals to the respective rooms of the players, officials and coaching staff from where they have to take for eating. Even they have to wash their rooms, clothes and toilets themselves.

But the cricketers will get a chance to have practised and fitness training to a limited scale from the eighth day of the tour. The disciple of Russell Domingo will hold a five-day preparation camp at Queenstown in the aftermath of the 14-day quarantine.